Artistic Talent Contest Short Stories

[Draak]

*looks at the stories*
yay i'm gonna lose again o/
xD

you don;t now that Demon. you could be an underdog, also if you dislike your story you have till the end of the contest to edit it and change it to your liking.

Good Luck everyone

-Draak

[DemonGod]

yeah i know.. but i suck at writing stories o.o
freestyle poetry is my territory .-.

[Lustre]

Imagine

Just imagine it: an impermeable grey haze clouding your sight; the stench of a thousand cigarettes raping your senses; the very ground beneath you trembling with every beat. Imagine: my home.

I do not know what keeps dragging me back to this bar. Perhaps it’s the way the – and I feel guilty for saying this – terrible band drown out my thoughts. Or maybe it’s the cheap, tasteless beer which has been infused with just enough alcohol to ensure you couldn’t care less about the flavour – or indeed, lack of. Either way, every Friday evening, without fail, I find myself sat in this very same seat drowning the past week in a sea of – basically – dirty water.

The old Barman pities me though. He gives me certain privileges which many of my fellow drinkers despise me for. For example, every now-and-then he will sneakily attempt to pass me a free drink. Quite frequently however, he is spotted by one of the other attendees and a small argument ensues – at which time my financial and social troubles surface once more.

The reaction to this enlightenment is always the same. They turn to me with pity quite clearly present in their eyes – unaware of course, that I can see them. Then our eyes meet and they try – though it’s always futile – to appear like they’re looking elsewhere at something much more interesting behind my shoulder, or they snap their head away and begin feverishly conversing with their companion whose bemused face at their friends’ sudden desire to talk quite hurriedly with them always amuses me.

I will not deign to enlighten you about the details of my financial and social troubles – as doing so would pain me too much – but suffice to say that I think it is time for a change. My list of “Things-to-change” is really quite simple:

- Get a job.
- Get fit.
- STOP DRINKING!

(The last point, although when considering my own health is probably the most important, is the one which I believe will simply slip into place when the first two are completed.)

Don’t misjudge me; it’s not that I don’t work, it’s just that the work I do right now isn’t a job. There is an acute difference between working and having a job. A job pays well, is stable and allows you to enjoy some luxuries. Working merely pays me enough for the basics, not to mention I only actually work if my boss calls me up – which unfortunately is quite rare. Therefore, although I work, I fear much of my income comes from the government, and they only give me enough to keep me alive – I’m sure a dead person, killed through lack of basic human rights, would not slide well in their next election.

As for getting fit... let’s just say I have a larger stomach than most. It’s probably the reason why members of the opposite gender won’t look twice at me. I suppose my face is pretty, but I fear it’s the weight which turns them off. It depresses me most of the time but that depression just makes me eat more. It’s a vicious cycle which I find near impossible to break free of. Perhaps, whilst I am dieting, I should try one of those new internet dating sites. Apparently they’re all the range now! Technology has never been my forte though, in life, I find that the simple things are what matter most – computers and technology are just too advanced for me. Perhaps I will call my brother and ask him for some directions using one – and indeed, which would be the best to buy! I suppose I’ll also need an Internet Producer... Provider... Proclaimer? Whatever they’re called.

As for the bar, I suppose I should make this my last night here. To return would only drag me back into the lifestyle which I’m so struggling to break free of. With a heavy heart I bade farewell to the barman – who seemed somewhat confused with my sudden and almost emotional farewell. I guess over my years here I had not been kind to the man who had listened to my insistent moaning on a number of occasions, and who never once turned me away. I suppose he was actually one of my closest friends and I trusted him explicitly.

It then occurred to me – quite suddenly I might add – that despite my referring to this lovely old man as a friend, I did not actually know his name, or anything about him. To me he was just The Barman. Deciding that now was not the time for such sentiments, I left. I knew I would probably never see this man again – as I never wished to return to this bar – and so learning his name would just be pointless and probably forgotten by morning.

With one last look around the gloom I walked out of the Recess’ Bar to – hopefully – never return.

825 words







I have no idea why one spoiler is black and the other grsy, so don't ask XD Essentially it's all one story though, and evidently would not fit into one spoiler tag XD

[skullreken]

Okay here's my one it's from a bigger story called the pursuit which is an episode in a series of stories I wrote in high school

word count :985

Kyle ran through the underbrush, thorns and brambles lashed his face and tore his clothes but he ignored them a smarting cheek and a cut across his nose were the least of his worries, mere nuisances compared to what would happen if he took a moment to care. He dared not look over his shoulder in case it slowed him down but it wasn’t necessary it would only confirm what he already knew, the glowing red eyes were still following and drawing ever closer. He was starting to tire he could feel his muscles ach his heart pounded in his ears and his breath grew shorter no matter how deep he inhaled it just wasn’t enough . “I can’t run forever “he thought, his minds voice losing all composure and shrieking hysterically. He panicked and looked over his shoulder the eyes glowed brighter when he did “It knows!” his minds voice shrieked. He turned his attention back to where he was running just in time to see a gnarled root in his path without thinking he jumped over it only to hit a low branch

There was a sickening crack and a burst of stars filled his eyes as he collided with it he landed heavily on his back and the only thing he could distinguish in the confusion was the whoosh as air left his lungs. He struggled to his feet but lost his footing and ended up rolling down into a ditch and there he lay breathless and bleeding in a woozy stupor staring at the stars peeping in and out of the holes in the spinning canopy. It was so tempting to just give in and let the gentle spinning carry him away but a loud thud and the scrape of a sword being drawn brought him back. He desperately willed himself to get up and run but his aching body refused to comply paralysed by the sight of the red glowing eyes stepping into the moon light to reveal the deaths head that housed them. “Impossible” He gasped staring at the grinning skull “you can’t exist” he shrieked knowing all too well the monstrosity was real.

The creature levelled the tip of its jagged sword in his direction and approached slowly it’s eyes burning brightly it revelling in the terror it inflicted on its prey before making the final blow. Finally his body listened to reason and sat up but the creature was upon him at once driving it’s blade through his shoulder and pinning him to the ground. A burning cold spread slowly from the swords tip numbing his body as it went. After a moment or two it removed its sword and stepped back. It was now or never, he tried to wrap his legs around the creatures and take it down but found that he couldn’t move, his body wouldn’t respond. Panic spread like wild fire in his mind and no matter what he tried he just couldn’t move but he could still feel the burning cold in his shoulder continue to creep down his arm up his neck and across his chest. "It has to be some sort of poison" he realized his thoughts becoming more frantic He tried to yell “What have you done to me” but all that came out was a strained wheeze.

The creature leaned over him leering in triumph. It’s eyes burned brighter as Kyle realized what was happening to him, the glow made its fixed grin even more sinister .“It’s laughing at me this sick monster is laughing at me” he thought. It placed the tip of its blade lightly on his cheek drawing blood as it bit into his skin. He stared impassively wishing he could close his eyes but that wasn’t possible gentle wheezes rattled in his throat as he tried in vain to plead for mercy from the beast. The fixed grin seemed to widen somehow and with a flick of its wrist the sight left Kyle’s eye forever. He would have screamed if it had been possible but this time not even a wheeze came out, the creature seemed put off by the lack of reaction and losing interest set about making slow shallow cuts across his chest for the sake of it. The cold burning grew more intense and spread further with every cut but he didn’t notice it so much he was more aware of a growing sense of tiredness coming over him soothing him and promising release if he were to just give in and let it carry him away.

“So this is it I’m going to die I always thought it would be worse than this it actually feels peaceful nothing matters now to think of all the worrying and fretting I did and for what? Nothing it seems so ridiculous now that I think about it” he thought starting to laugh the creature stopped cutting him and cocked its head and that’s when he realized he was laughing! The poison must have been a weak does it must be wearing off! The creature realized this also and raised the sword above its head ready to drive it through his heart. There was a flash of steel the creature went rigid a line appeared diagonally across its skull running from its left temple to its right cheek. The skull cap slid smoothly away the eye sockets blazed brilliantly then the light inside shot straight into the sky, its body and sword sublimed into a cloud of wispy smoke and the skull landed somewhere beside his head. It was over that thing was dead it couldn’t hurt him any more. He was just starting to realise that something else had killed the monster but before any thoughts could form the tiredness came over him like a massive wave and he slipped away into the soothing darkness.

[zoidmagnite]

Hope no one minds if I take a shot at this contest. I just put this together, so I hope it doesn't suck

1000 words.

"I don't know what to do." Penelope sat down at the kitchen table and brushed the bangs of her long brown hair to the side. As usual, they flowed right back in front of her brown eyes. She put her arms on the table, sighed, and looked through her bangs at her best friend Kendra.
Kendra projected empathy from her blue eyes and rested her head on her hands hidden under her dark black hair. "Only you can decide."
"God, this sucks."
"He'll be here any moment now."
"I'm running out of time."
"Then don't do it."
"I don't want to lose him, too."
"Do you want to be with him?"
"I don't know..."
"I understand."
Kendra lifted her head, got up out of the chair, straightened her school uniform and grabbed her sweater from the back of the chair.
"Where are you going?"
"I've got to go to work."
"But you said you were off today?"
"Rick called in sick. I have to go. I'm the only one who knows how to close the store."
Penelope frowned and appeared to put great effort into getting up out of her chair. "It's a video store, Kendra. What is so special about closing a video store?"
Kendra finished putting on the sweater and grabbed here book bag. "You just want me to be here when he comes. You've got to decide this for yourself, Pen."
"What would you do?"
Kendra huffed. "I already made my decision two years ago."
Penelope walked beside Kendra across the small studio apartment towards the front door. "Sorry."
"It's okay, Pen.”
"Do you regret it?"
"You mean doing it?"
"Well, yeah. I mean do you wish you could go back?"
"Pen, you over-analyze everything. It's either for you, or it's not." Kendra stopped at the door. "You've met everyone. We've described what it feels like, you've seen us do it together, you even said it looks like great fun. That's all we can show you. But once you do it.” Kendra stopped and look straight at Penelope. Her voice sounding like something deep inside had come to the surface. “You can never go back."
Penelope felt the hairs on the back of her neck tingle as Kendra's eyes burned right into her. She'd never done that before; not in the 18 years that they had lived next to each other. Penelope realized that she had pushed her childhood friend a little too hard. “I'm . . . I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. Will you still be my friend if I don't?”
“I can be a friend, Pen. But I can no longer be the friend you grew up with. I made a choice in my life. I can't look back. But if you choose not to, I will take Kal for my self. Graduation is next week and I feel the need to be what I am.”
Penelope took a step back and watched Kendra's stance melt back into her high school classmate. “You're right.”
Kendra smiled and made the last few steps towards the Apartment door. “Well, I've got to get to work.” She reached for the door, opened it briskly to reveal Kal with his hand upward ready to knock on it from the other side.
Kal looked confused and brushed his bronze hair back with the upward held hand.
Kendra smiled. “Hi Kal.”
“Hey, Kendy.” Kal stammered. “Hi, Pen. How are you?”
“I'm okay.”
Kendra proceeded to slide by Kal and took a step behind him before turning to look back over her shoulder at Penelope. “Pen just doesn't have it in her, Kal. Walk me to the video store?”
Penelope felt a rush. Everything was coming down to this moment. Her mind raced. Her two childhood friends were looking at her. Two people she had known for her whole life. She looked down at the door stop. It was line between them. She was on one side and Kendra and Kal were on the other. All she had to do was cross that line. She heard Kal take a breath.
“Pen, it's okay. Nobody will hate you if you can't.”
Penelope watched her vision blur and then tears fall away from her face before they landed on the line of that doorstop. Cross it Pen. Dammit cross it and everything will be the same again. It doesn't have to change. We can all still be friends. “I'm sorry, Kal. I just can't. I want to so badly inside, but I just can't. I'm sorry.” Penelope felt herself start to shake.
Kal stepped across the doorstop and put his arms around Penelope.
Burying her head into the jacket of his school uniform, Penelope found a silence where she could cry loudly.
“Kendra, you didn't have to be so cold.”
“She just wanted me to push her into saying it.”
“Dammit, Kendy. She's crying.”
“She's my best friend, Kal. I did it because I care about her.”
“I know but we're not--”
“Yes, Kal. We are . . . and Pen is not.”
Penelope pulled back from Kal as his arms fell away. She knew Kendra was right. No matter how hard she tried she knew Kendra was right. She couldn't do it. “It's okay, Kal. I'll be fine. Walk Kendra to the video store. I need some time alone.”
“Are you sure?” Ken looked concerned.
Penelope sniffed and wiped the tears from her eyes. “I'm fine. You two go ahead.”
Kal nodded. “We'll see you at school tomorrow, Pen.”
Penelope watched Kal and Kendra walk down the hall. They never looked back. Penelope could see them as they really were. Two wolves following a path. A path she knew that she couldn't walk. She looked down at the line of the doorstop. I'm just too human to be a Wolfzehn. She stepped back and closed the door to the apartment.

[Yiew]

I think theres only a few hours left...If that? I think it should have been closed already and the winner announced =P
If Rob is delayed thats fine, but the closure date should still stick.

[zoidmagnite]

It was 10:10PM, July 31, here in Michigan, USA when I posted...so I think I made the cut-off.

[RighteousRob]

Sorry it's taken me a while to get to this everyone, I am currently discussing the merits of each story with the other judge and will post the results soon. Thank you everyone for participating and look for the new contests which should begin in the next day or two and last a month this time. Thanks to everyone who has given me advice on topics.

zoidmagnite's entry does fall withen the time frame.

[Yiew]

*Flex*

*Flex again*

Phew. That was a worry =P
Skulls story made me quite nervous, as so did the others, but his was my main worry.
Congratulations to 2nd and 3rd =)

[AtsirkEiram]

When are we gonna have another contest? I wanna join!!